Biochemical Screen to Investigate Whole Smoke and Vapor Phase Effects in Mice

Abstract

Mouse lung tissue exposed to cigarette smoke was used to determine dry weight, oxygen consumption, glycogen, lactate, ribose, DNA, and RNA. Two smoking machines provided either whole body or head exposure and permitted comparison of whole smoke with vapor phase. Dry weights of lung tissue increased in mice undergoing whole body exposure to whole smoke but not when vapor phase was used. Whole smoke induced an elevation in lung glycogen, lactate, and DNA without alteration in oxygen uptake, ribose, and RNA. Vapor phase increased DNA and decreased lung lactate. Nucleic acid levels and oxygen consumption were unchanged in liver tissue but glycogen stores were markedly reduced by whole smoke and not by vapor phase. The effects on carbohydrate metabolism may reflect a general stress reaction while DNA alterations suggest a hyperplasia response and macrophage infiltration.